'Caveat Emptor': An Art Exhibit Made Entirely Of Forgeries Confiscated By The FBI

Upon entering "Caveat Emptor" you will likely be able to recognize the exhibition's work with confidence. Iconic pieces made famous by art legends like Chagall, Warhol, Gauguin and De Kooning adorn the walls, and yet, you probably haven't heard of a single artist showing.

That's right, "Caveat Emptor," which translates to "let the buyer beware," is composed entirely of forgeries that have been confiscated by the Federal Bureau of Investigations. Many of the convincing fakes fooled experts all the way to the auction block, making it as far as Christie's and Sotheby’s before getting caught.

"It's an anonymous group show for a bunch of artists who will never come forward," artist and co-curator Daniel Small said of the show. Small conceived of the exhibition with Fordham artist-in-residence Stephen Apicella-Hitchcock, in conjunction with Fordham University's International Conference on Cyber Security.

The masked forgers' talent, according to the curators, ranges from passable to exceptional. "Some of the paintings are quite good and some of them are bad, just like in any art show," Small says on Fordham's blog.

Yet aside from the skill involved, the artworks represented occupy an ambiguous terrain between valuable masterpieces and worthless knockoffs. Although all of the works have been certified as fake by the FBI, the rules used to derive authenticity are constantly in flux, leading to pieces being classified and reclassified at the behest of artists' estates and finicky forensic evidence.

"In a sense, it's a bit like a trophy room, or a display of evidence masquerading as a straightforward exhibition of paintings," Apicella-Hitchcock summarizes.

"By advocating for others to never hide their talent, you have left a mark on this Institution. It is the first time in my 15 years here that janitors and researchers have come together to do something on an equal plane. We are exceedingly grateful!"